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Robert "Bob" Wright, Jr.

Robert “Bob” Wright, Jr. is a graduate of the California Institute of Integral Studies doctoral program in Transformative Studies. He is a Certified Open Focus Trainer, a Certified Practitioner of Ericksonian Hypnosis, a Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic-Programming (NLP), and a Certified Seminar Leader (ASLA).

Abstract

Psychoneuroimmunological and Psychophysiological Correlates of Attention, Anxiety and Chronic Pain

A Presentation at the Consciousness Society Conference

By Robert Wright, Jr., Ph.D., COFT

Yale University

Divinity School

June 2019

According to recent surveys, a large segment of the American public regularly wrestles with anxiety disorders or are suffering from chronic pain maladies. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that over 40 million adult Americans and more than 10 million teens and children have one or more serious anxiety disorders. Likewise, the Institute of Medicine reports that over 100 million Americans suffer from some form of chronic pain. Western medicine approaches for handling anxiety and chronic pain disorders typically provide sufferers with pharmacological solutions which sometimes relieve symptoms but rarely address causation. In this presentation, Dr. Bob will discuss how when anxiety and chronic pain are viewed through an attentional lens, Complimentary medicine and holistic alternative non-pharmaceutical approaches not only can provide symptom relief, but also begin to address underlying causation for anxiety disorders and chronic pain maladies. Part 1 of the presentation will cover the psychoneuroimmmunolgy and psychophysiology of anxiety and chronic pain and how and why attentional foci can work to intensify or lessen the symptoms of anxiety and chronic pain by generating shifts in conscious and non-conscious awareness; framed within the contextual lens of the Wilber-Combs Matrix as Quadrant 1 & 2 experience. In Part 2 of his presentation, Dr. Bob will demonstrate a custom Open Focus exercise designed to give attendees an opportunity to begin dissolving their own anxiety and chronic pain. The release of bodily feltsense fear, pain, tension and worry [Wilber-Combs Matrix 1st & 2nd person quadrant experience] will allow participants to experience an ontological shift or firsthand “knowingness” of what it feels like to dissolve anxiety and chronic pain. A byproduct of this experience is that attendees may simultaneously unwind their habitual stress and gain insight on how bodily feltsense phenomena can be used and viewed as a valid qualitative 1st and 2nd person research inquiry method.